Crianlarich Meet Success

Martin & Sarah climbed a Corbett on the drive up to the meet, on Thursday.

On Friday, the group woke to new snowfall down to about 200m. Martin & Sarah climbed the Munro Meall Ghaordhie whilst John, having now suspended his winter Munro bagging for another year until next winter, climbed a Graham.

On Saturday, members woke to fresh snow on the cars in the hut car park.  Martin and Sarah drove as far as possible up the minor road to where the Ben Lawers visitor centre used to be and then took advantage of another party’s trail through the deep snow to reach the summit of the Munro Meall nan Tarmachan.  Due to the low visibility they decided not to attempt to follow the convoluted ridge westwards and returned.  John attempted a Graham via an intermediary, sub-Graham hill, but met trackless deep heather which resulted in an “endless” sequence of post-holing through knee to waist deep snow drifts and with no-one else to share the hard work of breaking trail retreated after the intermediary hill.

On Sunday, there were azure skies and Sarah and Martin climbed the Corbett Beinn Chuirn, near Beinn Laoigh (Ben Lui). With no-one to share the trail breaking on any Grahams, John returned home early.

Culra Bothy Closure

The MBA have just announced closure of the wooden hut bothy at Culra, allegedly due to an asbestos hazard.  More information can be found at http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/culra-bothy-closed/0010462/.  This bothy provided a good base for the remote Munros around Ben Alder. (Editor's note:- I am fairly certain that there is also a stone/rendered adjacent building which I have used in the past). Ben Alder Cottage is perhaps the nearest alternative (free) base, otherwise it's Loch Ossian SYHA (very basic, no showers, no fridge, just like a bothy, really.......except bothies don't need a fridge, they often are one).

Away Meets

Crianlarich is coming up soon. Still a couple of places available, let me know if you are interested.
The weather is improving! - Winter climbing and Winter munro bagging to be had.

After Crianlarich is the meet in Glen Etive  at  the hut Inbhirfaolin -  basic hut but lovely setting -  Book now.

Early notice for  the second bank holiday  in May 2015 I have booked 8 places at Mar Lodge  bunkhouse for 4 nights . It is a bit more expensive but a special place. £18 per night .


Climbing Wall
A big thank you to the team who have been re-routing the wall.  I hear good reports and will be down soon to try them out.

Sarah Kekus

Check the new page on our website with news of recent exploits and adventures. Read about Glenn's amazing trip to Antartica.
Come and join us in Crianlarich on 21st March for our Scottish Winter meet.

Club Member Personal Activity, Greenland

John Starbuck was in Greenland in Spring 2013. A 3 hour flight in a small twin engined Otter from Iceland and across the partly frozen North Atlantic took him and fellow expeditioners to the East coast of Greenland. A 12 hour snowmobile journey was made from the coast to the foot of the Oxford glacier.. The valley and glacier were ascended on skis, towing pulks, to establish a base camp.  Conditions were extremely cold and waist deep powder snow made the going very arduous. Very high avalanche risk conditions prevailed above the base camp, seriously curtailing climbing opportunities. A couple of technically easy first ascents were made, mainly on skis and then the last few hundred feet floundering up waist deep powder snow.

More details and video of the expedition is on the Member's Exploits page.

Club Member Personal Activity, Antarctica

Glenn Wilks was in Antarctica during December 2013.  Glenn sailed into Antarctica as a part of a ski mountaineering trip during which four first ascents were achieved.

Meet Report for Sunday 2 February 2014

Three stalwart members of West Cumbria Mountaineering Club (one aged 76) had a great day out on the Grassmoor fells on Sunday, in spite of the very strong and blustery winds.  Southwards, moist air from the Southwest enveloped the Ennerdale fells from Red Pike to High Crag in dark, ominous cloud but, being in the weather shadow, the Grassmoor fells were clear of cloud and members made the best of a day without rain for the first time in a week or more.  Fresh snow highlighted all the detailed intricacies of the crags and gullies which seam the North side of the Ennerdale fells. Parts of the path up the lower section of Gasgale Gill have been washed away and there was some minor entertainment in tackling a couple of smooth, slippery wet rock steps on the new path, with not a small drop to the blue and white churning water in the gill, in high spate, below.